Team-building trip forges Arnett brotherhood
Published:Sunday | June 4, 2023 | 12:36 AMDaniel Wheeler - Staff Reporter
ARNETT GARDENS’ quest to return to the summit of Jamaican football has been about their brotherhood, something that captain Fabian Reid is banking on, especially after their three-week bye included a team-building trip that has been very beneficial.
Arnett Gardens and Mount Pleasant enter this afternoon’s return leg of their Jamaica Premier League (JPL) semifinal tied 2-2 after a first leg which displayed their attacking capabilities and set the stage for a tense fight to make the final. Kick-off is at 5:00 p.m.
Arnett Gardens topped the regular season, allowing them a bye into the semifinal and got them three weeks to prepare for their postseason charge. While those three weeks have been used wisely in training, the team found some time to take a team-building trip to Cane River Falls, something that Reid said was beneficial for them to reassess and refocus ahead of the task that is before them.
“It got us together because teams win championships. So if we are in it together, you can win a championship,” Reid said.
“So that little trip we took, we managed to have a little fun. When you get a team together, it will work and that is what we are right now.”
What they hope to do is break a recent trend of number-one seeds that have not gone on to win the title, the last being Portmore United in 2019. Midfielder Marlon Martin said that their team strength will be key to getting one step closer to their goal.
BACK TO WORK
“It’s been a brotherhood and every one of us enjoyed ourselves (at the falls). But now we have come back to work. In the second leg, we have to (get the job done),” Martin said.
What Arnett head coach Paul Davis has been pleased about is what they have been able to build, especially this year, the fight and mental toughness that he believes they have to complete their mission.
“One of the greatest things is that my team is playing from the heart. They want the cup this year and we are going to go all out,” Davis said.
Reid and Martin are adamant that their mental toughness will be key to ensuring victory today at Sabina Park.
“We have to come up with a winning mentality and a fighting spirit like what we did (on Monday) and we will get the victory,” Reid said.
“I think the mental part of the game will be important. We have to focus more. We know that they are good on the corners and Leonardo Rankine still got to the ball to score in the first leg. He is in good form right now. So I feel, mentally, we have to focus more and try to get the win to go to the finals,” Martin said.